2012 Chevrolet Sonic With 1.4L Turbo Gets 40 MPG on Highway
DETROIT - The 1.4L Ecotec turbocharged engine is SAE-certified at 138 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft. of torque between 2,500 and 4,900 rpm.
by Staff
September 15, 2011
General Motors employee Peggy Burnside inspects a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic as it rolls off the assembly line at the GM Orion Assembly Plant Wednesday, September 14, 2011 in Lake Orion, Michigan.
1 min to read
General Motors employee Peggy Burnside inspects a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic as it rolls off the assembly line at the GM Orion Assembly Plant Wednesday, September 14, 2011 in Lake Orion, Michigan.
DETROIT – General Motors has provided updates on its new 2012-MY Chevrolet Sonic recently, but the most recent news gives fuel-economy numbers for this new subcompact. The Sonic will get 40 mpg on highway and 29 mpg city. In terms of performance, the 1.4L turbo Sonic can reach 60 mph in 8.2 seconds, according to the automaker.
The Sonic’s 1.8L engine with manual transmission gets 26 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. The automatic gets 25 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.
Ad Loading...
The 1.4L Ecotec turbocharged engine is SAE-certified at 138 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft. of torque between 2,500 and 4,900 rpm. Chevrolet said it’s the same engine used in the Cruze, just in a smaller package.
In terms of performance, the 1.4L turbo Sonic can reach 60 mph in 8.2 seconds, according to the automaker.
The 1.4L’s turbocharger is integrated within the exhaust manifold, which reduces engine weight. A reinforced crankshaft and stronger connecting rods deliver additional strength to support the engine’s pressurized power and torque over a wide rpm band, Chevrolet said.
Other engine features include the following:
Low-mass hollow-frame cast iron block
Dual overhead camshafts with continuously variable valve timing (CVVT)
Chain-driven cams
Roller-finger camshaft followers
Piston-cooling oil jets and integrated oil cooler
Variable-flow oil pump
Electronically controlled thermostat
The 2012-MY Chevrolet Sonic made its debut at the 2011 NAIAS.
The suggested retail price of the Sonic begins at $14,495 including destination but excluding tax, title, license and dealer fees.
National average jumps to $4.04 per gallon, up sharply from last year, with West Coast prices topping $5 and further increases expected amid rising oil tensions.
With oil prices rising again, AWP Safety’s fleet manager shares how to respond to rising fuel costs and how the right strategy can turn fuel spikes into cost-saving opportunities.
Rapid swings in crude oil prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East could create longer-term cost pressures for fleets, affecting fuel prices, supply chains, and vehicle strategy, says NTEA’s Andrew Wrobel.
48% of field service leaders are investing in AI to manage customer communication and self-service. Get the latest on how fleets are using AI and thinking about the future.
Fleet managers can use the DOE’s 2026 Fuel Economy Guide to benchmark MPG across powertrain types using side-by-side vehicle ratings and compare new model-year options.
